Breeders’ Cup Marathon: Blueskiesnrainbows takes unusual path

ARCADIA, Calif. – For a Breeders’ Cup runner, Blueskiesnrainbows has had an unconventional schedule in advance of the $500,000 BC Marathon at Santa Anita on Friday.

Not many Breeders’ Cup horses have their final two prep races at the Los Angeles County Fair and the Big Fresno Fair in California.

A 4-year-old colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Blueskiesnrainbows won the $100,000 Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational over 1 1/8 miles at the L.A. County Fair on Sept. 22. He was fifth as the 4-5 favorite in the $75,400 Bull Dog Handicap over 1 1/8 miles at Fresno on Oct. 13, the victim of a speed duel that led him to fade late, beaten seven lengths.

The BC Marathon is run over 1 3/4 miles on dirt and will be a distance test for Blueskiesnrainbows.

By English Channel, Blueskiesnrainbows was third in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface at Del Mar on July 26, the longest race of his career. He followed by finishing last of 12 in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 25.

“If we’re going to run that particular horse in a Breeders’ Cup race, we thought he’d fit that race,” Hollendorfer said Sunday. “We think he’ll be able to run that far.”

Hollendorfer insisted that Blueskiesnrainbows should not be judged by his loss in the Bull Dog Handicap. Blueskiesnrainbows fought for the lead for six furlongs and was out of contention in early stretch.

“Two riders blasted out and went head-and-head as hard as they could,” Hollendorfer said. “I’m not making excuses.”

Owned by Bad Boy Racing and Whizway Farms, Blueskiesnrainbows has won 5 of 20 starts and earned $369,552. The highlight of his 2012 season was a win in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes for 3-year-olds at Betfair Hollywood Park when trained by Bob Baffert. This year, with Hollendorfer, Blueskiesnrainbows has won twice in 10 starts – an optional claimer at Santa Anita in March and the Hinds Invitational.

On Sunday, Blueskiesnrainbows worked a half-mile in 47 seconds under jockey Martin Pedroza, who was aboard for the win in the Hinds Invitational. Pedroza has the mount Friday.

Blueskiesnrainbows is expected to be prominent throughout the BC Marathon and might be in front.

There are 10 horses pre-entered for the BC Marathon. Three have raced over the distance or farther – Commander, London Bridge, and Pool Play.

Commander was ninth in the 2012 BC Marathon here. London Bridge was fourth in the Prix Michel Houyvet over 1 7/8 miles on turf at Deauville, France, on Aug. 15. The 8-year-old Pool Play, eighth in the 2012 BC Classic, won the Valedictory Stakes over 1 3/4 miles at Woodbine in December 2010.

There will be support for Worldly, who was third in the Homecoming Classic at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28 behind 2012 BC Classic winner Fort Larned, and Suns Out Guns Out, who won an allowance race at Parx Racing on Sept. 21.